Sweetpotato plant named ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’

ABSTRACT

‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ is a compact, non-twining, upright variety producing many short shoots. It is distinguishable from other cultivars by its purple palmate shaped leaves with a lobed base; a compact habit and semi-erect mounding plant architecture. The purple leaves, short internodes, and the plant architecture are what makes ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ unique amongst the current ornamental sweetpotatoes in the marketplace. ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ also exhibits very good vigor and is well branched.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the novel,ornamental plant variety disclosed herein is Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Ipomoea batatasdisclosed herein has been given the varietal denomination‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ipomoea batatas is a member of the morning glory family Convolvulaceae.This species is grown worldwide and it exhibits a wide range of plantforms and colors. The cultivated members of Ipomoea batatas grown byfarmers worldwide are commonly produced for consumption of theirnutritious, enlarged storage roots. These types typically produce a fastgrowing green vine that has a wide variety of leaf shapes ranging frompalmate and deeply lobed, to cordate or triangular shaped leaves with nolobes.

Like their edible forms, Ipomoea batatas ornamental sweetpotato plantsare a heat-loving, drought-tolerant, perennial vine typically grown asan annual. However, ornamental sweetpotato plants are distinguished fromthe edible cultivated forms in that they often do not produceattractive, enlarged storage roots suitable for human consumption.Instead they possess unique foliage colors, leaf shapes, and growthhabits, which have significant value in the ornamental marketplace.

Ornamental sweetpotatoes are desirable in the landscape and ornamentalindustries because their foliage comes in a wide variety of colors (e.g.pale yellow to dark purple with some exhibiting temporal and individualleaf color variegation patterns) and plant shapes (e.g. mounded and verycompact to prostrate and highly spreading). They can be grown as apotted plant and/or in a mixed planting format, and they have theability to cover a large space or hang over walls and decorative potscreating brightly colored and textured backdrops in gardens and patios.Most ornamental sweetpotatoes grow and last the entire growing seasonand they require little maintenance. Moreover, these plants have fewinsect or disease problems.

To meet the growing horticultural demand for ornamental sweetpotatoes,it is desirable to produce new cultivars of ornamental sweetpotato withnew or improved foliage colors, variegation patterns, leaf shapes, andplant architectures. In addition, it would be advantageous to developcultivars of ornamental sweetpotato exhibiting a more compact growththat do not out-compete other species in mixed containers.

‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ was bred to meet the increasing demand for newornamental sweetpotatoes. ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ is a compact, non-twining,upright variety producing many short shoots. It is distinguishable fromother cultivars by its purple palmate 3-5 moderately lobed leaves, acompact habit and semi-erect mounding plant architecture. The purpleleaves, short internodes, and the plant architecture, which promotesgood plant production in the greenhouse for wholesale distributors,distinguishes ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ amongst the current ornamentalsweetpotatoes in the marketplace. ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ exhibits very goodvigor and is very well branched. In greenhouse and field trialsconducted since 2015 ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ has been shown to be much lessvigorous than Ipomoea batatas ‘Margarita’ (unpatented) and ‘Blackie’(unpatented) and is suitable for use as a landscape or containerizedplant. The production of flowers by ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ is infrequentunder short day conditions.

Lineage. ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ (breeding designation NC8827-031ORN)originated from open-pollinated seed from the proprietary Ipomoeabatatas breeding line NC8226-011ORN (the female parent; not patented).Botanical seed was harvested from this and other ornamental sweetpotatolines planted in our summer advanced ornamental replicated trialsbetween June of 2014 and November of 2014 in Clinton, N.C. NC8826-011ORNresulted from open pollinated seed harvested from the proprietaryIpomoea batatas breeding line NC7409-060ORN (the female parent; notpatented). Botanical seed from NC8226-011ORN was planted in thegreenhouse in December 2015. The first cycle of selection on theseedlings was exercised at the seedling tray stage and survivors weretransferred to a single 6-inch pot, which was then maintained in thegreenhouse. Cuttings (2 each) were taken from the plants in April andplanted in the field as 2-plant, unreplicated plots, during mid-June2015. The single, individual plant now known as ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ wasselected Aug. 20, 2015 because of its combination of exceptionalfeatures, and it has been propagated asexually as vegetative materialfrom the original 6-in pot in the sweetpotato breeding greenhouse andvia tissue culture in Raleigh, N.C. since that time.

Asexual Reproduction. Since its selection, Ipomoea batatas‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ has been asexually reproduced in North Carolinapredominantly by vegetative propagation of vine cuttings. Successively,there have been six cycles of vegetative propagation, one cycle oftissue culture micropropagation, and multiple vegetative propagationcycles to increase plant numbers. Asexual reproduction of‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ by cuttings has shown that the unique features of thenew cultivar are stable and that the plant reproduces true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ is a compact, non-twining, semi-upright varietyproducing many short shoots. It is distinguishable from other Ipomoeabatatas cultivars by its dark purple, palmate moderately lobed leaveswith 3-5 lobes; a compact habit and semi-erect mounding plantarchitecture. The dark purple leaves, short internodes, and the plantarchitecture distinguishes ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ amongst the currentornamental sweetpotatoes in the marketplace. ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ alsoexhibits very good vigor and is very well branched, a growth habit thatpromotes good plant production in the greenhouse for wholesaledistributors. In greenhouse and field trials conducted since 2015 by thebreeding program and industry collaborators ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ has beenshown to be a much less vigorous vine producer than Ipomoea batatas‘Margarita’ and ‘Blackie’ and is suitable for use as a landscape orcontainerized plant. The production of flowers by ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ issporadic under short day conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs in the drawings were made using conventional techniquesand show the colors as true as reasonably possible by conventionalphotography. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from thecolor values cited in the detailed botanical description, which moreaccurately describe the colors of the new Ipomoea batatas.

FIGS. 1A-1B. Color photograph of a typical specimen of greenhouse grownIpomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ in a 6-inch pot from the side (FIG.1A) and top (FIG. 1B), 59 days after planting.

FIGS. 2A-2B. Color photograph of a typical specimen of Ipomoea batatas‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ from side (FIG. 2A) and top (FIG. 2B) in the field, 68days after planting.

FIGS. 3A-3B. Color photograph showing upper (FIG. 3A) and lower (FIG.3B) surfaces of immature (right) to mature (left) leaves produced byIpomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing the storage roots produced byIpomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ in the field, 133 days after planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristicsof a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea batatas plant known by thecultivar name ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’. All colors cited herein refer to TheRoyal Horticulture Society Colour Chart designations (The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 1995, 4^(th) ed.) except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plant descriptionsare based on the standardized international sweetpotato descriptorsestablished jointly by the International Potato Center (CIP), Lima,Peru; The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC),Taipei, Taiwan; and the International Board for Plant Genetics Resources(IBPGR), Rome, Italy (CIP, AVRDC, IBPGR. 1991. Descriptors for SweetPotato. Huaman, Z., editor. International Board for Plant GeneticResources, Rome, Italy, 134pp.). Where dimensions, sizes, colors, andother characteristics are given, it is to be understood that suchcharacteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accuratelyas practicable.

The descriptions reported herein are from a group of 59-day-oldspecimens grown individually in six-inch azalea pots. The plants weregrown in Raleigh, N.C., under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse, where, during the fall, day and night temperatures rangebetween 30-40° C. and 22-26° C., respectively. After rooting, plantswere treated with 200 ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer weekly. Plant historieswere taken in December 2017 in Raleigh, N.C. Ipomoea batatas‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions; therefore, the phenotype may vary under differentenvironmental conditions such as season, temperature, light intensity,day length, cultural conditions, and the like, without however, anyvariance in the genotype.

-   Classification.    -   -   Botanical name.—Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.        -   Common name.—Ornamental Sweetpotato.        -   Variety name.—‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’.-   Growth conditions: Ipomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ has very good    vigor and a moderate growth rate. In locations with mild winter    conditions, Ipomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ will grow perennially;    otherwise it is an annual plant. Similar to other cultivated    sweetpotatoes, wind or rain rarely causes much damage to    ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’, but if damage does occur, the plant drops the    damaged leaves and grows new shoots at nodes where the leaves were    lost. Under low light levels in a greenhouse, ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ can    develop intumescence, which will remain on the affected foliage, but    will be outgrown with new foliage.-   Aboveground structure and coloration: FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A and    3B show the shape and coloration of a typical specimen of Ipomoea    batatas ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’. Color will vary somewhat due to    temperature and nutrient stress. Overall, this cultivar is a    compact, non-twining, semi-upright herbaceous plant that has an    average height of ˜15.6 cm and an average area spread of ˜33.3 cm.    The growth habit of this plant is to grow upright with shoots    growing upward and outward.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely-branching with ˜3-4 primary lateral            branches coming off of the stem. Very dense foliage and no            pinching is required to stimulate branching. Branch texture            is smooth and glabrous with slight pubescence.        -   Vegetative lateral branching.—Length: ˜16.9 cm. Diameter:            ˜0.5 cm. Internodes are short with an average length of ˜1.6            cm.        -   Secondary lateral shoots.—No measurable secondary lateral            shoots formed on the rated plants.        -   Stem.—Round and smooth with an upward, very strong, slightly            flexible, non-brittle strength. Color: Purple (RHS N77A).        -   Adventitious roots.—Present at nodes. Color: purple (RHS            N77A) with yellow (RHS N144B).        -   Petiole.—Petioles are held slightly upward and curve            outward. Leaf petiole has a smooth glabrous texture. Length:            ˜9.3 cm. Diameter: ˜0.3 cm. Color: Purple (RHS N186B-A).-   Foliage: Leaves are alternate and tend to slightly spiral around the    stem. They are simple and moderately divided into 5 lobes. Leaf    shape is somewhat variable as is size (see FIGS. 3A-3B).    -   -   Quantity.—Heavily foliated, with ˜20.5 leaves per lateral            branch.        -   Mature leaf length.—˜12.4 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—˜13.8 cm.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf base.—Lobed.        -   Leaf texture.—Glabrous texture and matte finish.        -   Venation.—Arcunate to cross-venulate. Texture: Glabrous.        -   Color.—Leaves are purple and range within that palate as            they mature. See also Table 1.

TABLE 1 Leaf color of Ipomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’. Leaf StructureUpper Surface Lower Surface Young Leaf Greyed Purple Purple (RHS N77A-(RHSN186B-A) N79A) Mature Leaf Greyed Purple Greyed Purple (RHS N186A)(RHS N186B) Vein-mature leaf Greyed Purple Purple (RHS N77C-D)(RHSN186B-A) Vein-young leaf Greyed Purple Purple (RHS N77C-D)(RHSN186B-A)

-   Inflorescence: The production of flowers by ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ is    very sporadic under short day conditions and we have not been able    to obtain flowers for the measurement of flower traits.-   Storage root coloration: Plants form no, to small, underground    storage roots that are typically malformed and do not meet USDA    Sweetpotato Storage Root Grade Standards (see FIG. 4). Fibrous roots    are typically cream colored (RHS 155B). Storage roots that are    formed possess greyed yellow (RHS 162C) skin and a yellow flesh (RHS    11D).-   Disease or pest resistance. ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ is susceptible to    whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporarium) and thrips (order Thysanoptera)    in a greenhouse environment. ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ is susceptible to    damage by Japanese beetles (Popilla japonica) under outdoor    conditions. The resistance or susceptibility of ‘NCORNSP-025SCK’ to    other known insects and pathogens of sweetpotato is unknown. Under    low light conditions, slight edema may occur.-   Comparison with parent plant NC8226-011ORN: ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ (aka    NC8827-031ORN) has deeply lobed leaves and dark purple foliage,    while NC8226-011ORN, the maternal parent, has slightly toothed,    heart-shaped leaves, and NC8226-011ORN has a more compact growth    habit compared to ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’. The paternal parent of    NC8226-011ORN is unknown, as it came from an open pollinated seed.-   Comparison with other Ipomoea batatas cultivars: ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’    is distinct based on leaf shape and plant architecture. Of the    common cultivars of ornamental sweetpotato, ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ is    best compared with the cultivars ‘Sweet Caroline Purple’ (U.S. Plant    Pat. No. 14,912) and ‘NCORNSP-015SCPI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,631)    (Table 2). Like ‘Sweet Caroline Purple’, ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ has    purple leaves. However, the leaves of ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ are slightly    larger and they possess a deeper purple coloration that is more    consistent throughout the plant foliage. The habit of    ‘NORNSP-024SCRI’ is also more compact and upright than either    ‘NCORNSP-015SCPI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,613) or ‘Sweet Caroline    Purple’.

‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ has a moderately compact to compact, semi-upright,non-twining plant habit compared with the moderately compact, slightlytrailing habit of ‘Sweet Caroline Purple’ and the compact, upright,non-twining habit of ‘Sweet Caroline Bewitched Imp’ (‘NCORNSP-014BWPI’;patented (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,651)). Furthermore, ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’has a larger average leaf size compared with the smaller leaves of‘NCORNSP-019SCSHLM’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,318). Unlike ‘Sweet CarolineBewitched Imp’, which does not produce flowers, even under short-dayconditions, ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ will flower sporadically throughout theseason.

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’ with other Ipomoea batatascultivars. ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart ‘NCORNSP- Purple’ (U.S. ‘NCORNSP-Characteristic 024SCRI’ Plant Pat. 14,912) 015SCPI’ Plant HabitModerately Moderately Moderately Compact to Compact, Compact, Compact,Slightly Slightly-Upright Upright, Trailing Semi-erect Average LeafLength: 12.4 cm Length: 11.5 cm Length: 13.3 cm Length and Width: 13.8cm Width: 8.0 cm Width: 13.2 Width Foliage Color Greyed Purple Purplewith Dark purple (RHS (RHS N186A) green base N186A-187A) (RHS N77A,147A) Leaf Shape Moderately Moderately Moderately lobed, 5 Lobed, 5-7Lobed, lobes. Entire lobes. Entire 3-5 lobes. Entire with and with acutewith and acuminate apex and acuminate to apex and a acute base. acuteapex and lobed base. cordate base.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea batatas plant named‘NCORNSP-024SCRI’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.